Video courtesy - Dhrupad Mela, Varanasi
Raga Yaman - alaap jod jhala, bandish
Raga Kambhoji - Short recital of Kriti Kashi Vishveshvara by Muthuswamy Dikshitar
Pakhawaj Accompaniment - Dr Ankit Parekh
Tanpura - Jagriti Smriti Pandey
It was my privilege to perform at this grand stage of Dhrupad mela, set up for the 50th time, honoring a long standing tradition of dhrupad that is said to have evolved from the vedic times. Despite struggles during covid times and financial ups and downs, the management had continued to turn up year after year, for half a century preserving the ancient and sometimes falling out of releveance art form and it was truly inspiring to see their commitment. The International Dhrupad Mela held every year is a sought after event attended by musicians from all over the world, to witness representatives of dhrupad present their music in back to back concerts that span all night over four consecutive nights leading upto Shivratri.
I took up a few moments of the audience after my Yaman recital to sing a small part of a "magnum opus" kriti of Muthuswamy Dikshitar, called Kashi Vishvershwaraya Ehi Maam Pahi. It was truly an honor and the greatest blessing to be able to offer this at the feet of Kashi Vishwanath and that too at Banaras, the taposthali of Muthuswamy Dikshitar, where he spent 8 years learning Sri Vidya under the tutelage of his Guru Shri Chidambaranath Swamy.
I hope you enjoy this video, there are a few issues with the sound in the beginning and though the actual sound at the venue was quite spectacular the output to the social media live (from where this video has been extracted) was facing some issues. This video has been shared to document my humble effort at this historic stage and event. Seeking you blessings.